SPRING 2007 FORESTS Volume 1, No. 1 & SM

FamiliesA newsletter from the American Tree Farm System®, a program of the American Forest Foundation, Inc. IN THIS ISSUE Welcome! Carbon Trading ...... 2 Tree Farm Convention ...... 2 Welcome, to the inaugural issue of the American Tree Farm System’s (ATFS) first national newsletter. If you are reading this, you are one of nearly 90,000 family forestland owners Tree Farm on Capitol Hill ...... 3 enrolled in ATFS. Begun in 1941, ATFS is today the oldest and largest national family forestry organization in the United States, with enrolled forestlands totaling almost 26 million acres. Stihl Photo Contest ...... 4 You are in the Tree Farm System because you have been recognized for your outstanding forest stewardship and your commitment to manage your forestland in a sustainable manner. Adding to that, your forestland has been certified by a professional, qualified and trained forester working in concert with ATFS. This is just one of the many values ATFS National Operating provided to you through ATFS. In this first edition newsletter you will learn about many Committee of the other values ATFS is providing you, such as: • timely information and education to help you make sound decisions regarding your Clint Bentz, Chair & Editorial Board Member forestland objectives; Bruce Alt, Co-Sponsor Representative • international recognition for your ATFS certification allowing you to not only maintain Joseph & Patricia Benzing, Northeastern global competitiveness but to find additional markets for your timber if and when you decide to harvest; Tree Farm Representatives & Editorial Board • speaking as a powerful voice on Capitol Hill for 90,000 U.S. family forest owners on John W. Burke, III, Southern Tree Farm issues like the upcoming 2007 Farm Bill and the Estate Tax. Representative & Editorial Board Glenn & Evelyn Charlson, North Central Please read on and learn more about the values your enrollment in ATFS brings you and how we Tree Farm Representatives & Editorial Board are working for you to become an essential source for all your forest ownership needs. And, after Rick Fletcher, Extension Representative you finish reading, make sure you get further information at www.treefarmsystem.org. Tom & Sherry Fox, 2005 National Outstanding Tree Farmers & Editorial Board Jerry Grossman, Consulting Forester Representative Forest Certification Bob & Margaret Kintigh, 2006 National Outstanding Tree Farmers & Editorial Board In 1941, ATFS began certifying forestland as being managed in a responsible and Richard Lewis, Logger Representative sustainable manner. Today, ATFS is the oldest and most trusted name in family forest Phillip Livingston, ATFS Leadership certification in the United States. With nearly 4,400 professional, trained and qualified Representative inspectors, ATFS boasts a certification network unmatched in the world. However, little Stephen Loveland, Industry Representative did we realize that by the late 1990s, forest certification would become part of a global Steve McWilliams, Co-Sponsor Representative movement. Consumers were becoming concerned about the origins of their forest products and many large buyers of paper and solid wood products began seeking certified wood Mary Perala, ATFS State Leadership to allay their customers’ and the public’s concerns. Fortunately ATFS was there for you. Representative Cliff Schneider, Industry Representative Today there are over 60 other certification systems around the world seeking to secure a John Seifert, State Forester Representative position for themselves and their forest owners’ wood in an ever tightening global marketplace. Fred Souba, Jr., Industry Representative ATFS certified wood is recognized by buyers such as Time, Inc., L.L. Bean, and U.S. forest Patrick Strauch, Co-Sponsor Representative industry companies who are members of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®. We are working Carl & Betty Unlaub, Western Tree Farm hard for you to make sure that your family forest remains viable in the world market place. Representatives & Editorial Board Currently, we are undergoing a process that will give ATFS certified wood global recognition Jim & Marlene Zdanovec, 2004 National and endorsement as being sustainably managed. This means enhanced market access for Outstanding Tree Farmers & Editorial Board certified Tree Farmers like you. Carbon Trading and Your Tree Farm Enthusiasm for carbon trading is spreading Committee held a roundtable meeting with tasks we have undertaken. There will need worldwide, and the issue is gaining serious European executives, officials and consult- to be major coordination and agreement momentum here in the United States. ants to figure out how the U.S. may adapt on national and international levels. If Already congressional leaders and com- Europe's system while avoiding the pitfalls. Congress legislates a cap-and-trade sys- mittees are trying their hand at cap-and- tem, we must make sure that U.S. family trade legislation to regulate the amount Needless to say, in many ways the carbon forests are considered a credible source of of carbon emitted into Earth's atmosphere. trading landscape is taking on a gold rush tradable carbon. ATFS’s recognition as a Essentially, cap-and-trade is a system in appearance. Groups are springing up credible certification system has put Tree which governments place a cap on the daily trying to find ways to be the first Farmers many steps ahead of others, but amount of carbon that industries can to enter the system and stake their claim. we have much more to do. put into the atmosphere. If an industry One of the most attractive sources of exceeds their cap, they may then purchase tradable carbon out there today is the As a word of caution, we have noticed carbon “credits” through a carbon American Tree Farm System. From what’s that in past few weeks more and more exchange. This purchased carbon is understood at this point, ATFS is one of the organizations are trying to establish them- sequestered, so that it cannot be used in largest single sources of potentially trad- selves as carbon aggregators. They realize any fashion that will allow it to escape in able carbon in the U.S. they must find certified Tree Farms. We to the atmosphere. Ideally the carbon urge you to be cautious if you find yourself sequestering entity absorbs carbon from At this year’s National Leadership contacted regarding carbon trading. We the atmosphere as well. Because land Conference, the message to the national are finding that many of these groups are plants take up carbon dioxide in photosyn- office was loud and clear: move with not registered to legitimately trade carbon thesis and store the carbon in biomass, all possible speed to securely position on your behalf. If you are approached by forests and soils seem to be attractive ATFS and its stakeholders in the carbon any organization regarding carbon trad- venues to store carbon, making Tree Farms trading arena. Through the American ing, please do not hesitate to call us to find potential sources of carbon credits for sale Forest Foundation, ATFS is working on a out their carbon aggregator status with the and trade. concept to establish certified Tree Farms American Tree Farm System. as credible and sought-after sources In Europe they have been trading carbon of tradable carbon, and position our We will continue to keep you updated on our for some time now. But it has become a stakeholders/co-sponsors as exclusive progress and at some point we may be call- very complicated system and the rules are aggregators and traders. ing on all of you to advocate to your legisla- still developing. At the end of March, the tors the necessary addition of family forests in Senate Energy and Natural Resources This is by far one of the most challenging the global carbon trading pool.

Join Us at the 2007 Tree Farmer Convention Mark your calendars for the American Tree Farm System’s 2007 National Tree Farmer Convention, October 11 - 14, in Madison, Wisconsin.

Every year, the National Tree Farmer Convention brings together hundreds of Tree Farmers from around the country and offers comprehensive and relevant educational sessions, tours, and networking events that will enhance how you manage your Tree Farm. This fun and energetic convention is designed to deliver attendee value, education, and connections.

The four-day convention includes dozens of concurrent educational sessions for family forest owners, keynote addresses, over 20 demonstrations and expert speakers, several optional tours, networking events, exhibits, and a once-a-year opportunity to meet and mingle with Tree Farmers from all over the country. The Saturday Field Day at the Arington Tree Farm features the Fred Scheers Lumberjack Show.

Join us at the 14th National Tree Farmer Convention in Madison, Wisconsin at the Monona Terrace Community and Conference Center – a Frank Lloyd Wright property. Come and celebrate Great Lakes. Great Forests. Look for convention registration materials in the July/August issue of

ACTION Tree Farmer Magazine or on the website, www.treefarmsystem.org in June.

2 FORESTS & Families • SPRING 2007 NATIONAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Northeast Region Representatives Bill Pike, Massachusetts Tree Farm on Capitol Hill Al Robertson, Vermont Mimi Wright, Maryland The American Tree Farm System is working Washington D.C. with Members of North Central Region Representatives hard to ensure that the voice of family for- Congress, USDA Forest Service, and Bob Bauer, Kentucky est owners is heard on Capitol Hill. By fos- Natural Resource Conservation Service to Des Jones, Michigan tering a more favorable climate in which to discuss the importance of family forestry in Bob Poel, Michigan practice forestry in the United States, we the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization. Southern Region Representatives will be able to keep our forests as forests. Skeet Burris, South Carolina Dr. Robert Cooper, North Carolina We have and will continue to work with Walt McPhail, South Carolina (Vice Chair) Tree Farm advocacy efforts at the national other forestry and conservation groups Western Region Representatives level are carried out by our National to increase our impact through coalitions Dick Courter, Oregon (Vice Chair) Public Affairs Committee (NPAC), a group at the national level. We have strong Bob Falkner, Washington of Tree Farmer representatives from across partnerships with forestry organizations Carl Unlaub, Texas the nation. This year, the committee is dedi- such as the Society of American Foresters, cated to working on critical issues such as Association of Consulting Foresters, estate taxes, green building policy, bio- and the National Woodland Owners Tree Farm needs your help! If you are A mass, endangered species legislation, and Association and we are developing interested in becoming involved in Tree C the 2007 Farm Bill reauthorization. NPAC new relationships with conservation Farm’s advocacy efforts, please send an T I

representatives write letters and make visits groups such as The Nature Conservancy, email to [email protected] or visit O to lawmakers and also rally grassroots sup- which recognize the importance of the News & Action section of the Tree port on the state level for family forestry private family forest land to sustain Farm website at www.treefarmsystem.org N issues. In April 2007, NPAC met in environmental values. >News & Action.

Subscribe to Tree Farmer Participate in Magazine, the guide to your ATFS sustaining America’s forests Member Survey

You've spent a great deal of time, effort, Tree Farmer Magazine is designed to help Now is a time of tremendous growth and oppor- and money establishing your parcel of private forest landowners to become better tunity for ATFS. We’re proud to represent you land and developing it into a certified Tree stewards, save money with our National Public Affairs Committee and Farm. How you maintain, care for, and and time, and essentially, our National Operating Committee. Often we improve your Tree Farm, while also staying add to the enjoyment of are asked about our membership, ahead of new tax laws and legislative pro- your land. e.g., demographic information, edu- posals makes all the difference in continu- cational background, what our mem- ing to enjoy this little piece of earth you’ve The magazine is bers like and what they dislike, their worked so hard for. Our magazine, Tree directed by an editori- forest management goals, recreational Farmer, the guide to sustaining America's al board made up of activities, etc. We need your help to family forests speaks to this exactly. This Tree Farmers them- answer these questions. publication is dedicated to keeping family selves. They tell us forestland owners informed and educated what stories they Won’t you please take a few A C about best practices techniques and want to hear and minutes and complete our membership T I new legislation affecting your Tree Farm, what they need to survey that’s on our website at O putting you in the front row, and enabling know. Tree Farmer, the guide www.treefarmsystem.org>News & Action. N you to take part in shaping the future of to sustaining America's family forests is the your Tree Farm. necessary tool for all forest owners who prac- These questions are important to us so that tice sustainable forest management. we make sure the voices of all Tree Farmers Tree Farmer is the official magazine of in all different areas of the country are repre- ATFS. Whether your goal is pride, pleasure Subscribe today for only $18 a year, A sented. Individual answers are confidential. or profit you can use this magazine to get $34 for two years, and $50 for a C The answers you provide are reported using T

I the average, or pooled answers to the ques- practical, how-to and hands-on information three year subscription. Visit O tions. They are not responses of any one indi- that helps you get the most out of your www.treefarmsystem.org>Tree N woodlands. Farmer Magazine>subscribe now. vidual. Thanking you in advance in helping us with this very important project. A program for Tree Farmers, by Tree Farmers 3 NON-PROFIT ORG. American Tree Farm System® U.S. POSTAGE PAID American Forest Foundation Dulles, VA 1111 Nineteenth Street, NW Permit #4419 Suite 780 Washington, D.C. 20036

Sustaining forests, watersheds, and healthy habitats through

the power of private stewardship.

r ules, visit www.treefarmsystem.org. visit ules, format (JPEG or TIFF preferred). TIFF or (JPEG format 1 1 x 8.5 .tr www eef armsystem.org.

ed by STIHL. For official contest official For STIHL. by ed appoint be esolution and at least 300 dpi in an in dpi 300 least at and esolution r high Farm family! To start shopping, visit shopping, start To family! Farm

780, Washington, D.C. 20036. Judges will Judges 20036. D.C. Washington, 780, without people. Digital photos must be must photos Digital people. without he newest members of your Tree Tree your of members newest he t

111 Nineteenth Street, NW, Suite NW, Street, Nineteenth 111 1 TFS, A ographs of Tree Farms, preferably Farms, Tree of ographs t pho There are items for every age, including age, every for items are There

t, es Cont o t Pho o t or email he t of body he t TIHL is looking for scenic for looking is TIHL S , ticular par In oducts have recently been added. added. been recently have oducts pr

system.org with the required information in information required the with system.org heck it out as new as out it heck c o t e sur Be y? ecentl r

os@treefarm- t pho o t sent be should sions s". k Buc TIHL "S in $250.00 Have you visited the ATFS Online Store Online ATFS the visited you Have

- submis All . 7 200 30, June y b ed eceiv r be e eceiv r will up unner r The . dealer Pride!

of the digital photo. All digital photos must photos digital All photo. digital the of products/accessories at a local STIHL local a at products/accessories

aken, and a brief description description brief a and aken, t as w o t pho TIHL brand brand TIHL S for edeemable r s", k Buc

ree Farm ree T

he t when of e dat e ximat o appr location, TIHL "S $500.00 e eceiv r will t es Cont

landowner contact information, Tree Farm Tree information, contact landowner The winner of the 2007 Tree Farm Photo Farm Tree 2007 the of winner The

Wear Your Your Wear arm owners and owners arm F ee r T he t of names he t

include include t mus and CD a on or y onicall tr tion! tion! omo pr national his t of t par as ed tur

al photos must be submitted elec- submitted be must photos al digit All our Tree Farm could be fea- be could Farm Tree our y means This

paign. paign. cam tising er adv ade tr upcoming

g. g. em.or t s msy ar eef .tr www heir t for es pictur ind f o t t es Cont o t Pho

oday! t up sign and ction A

of photographs can be found at at found be can photographs of Inc., is sponsoring the 2007 Tree Farm Tree 2007 the sponsoring is Inc.,

www.treefarmsystem.org>News & & www.treefarmsystem.org>News

No print photos accepted. Examples Examples accepted. photos print No Our Partner in Sustainable Forestry, STIHL Forestry, Sustainable in Partner Our

press releases, and Action Alerts. Visit Alerts. Action and releases, press

es from ATFS, Tree Farm Notes, Notes, Farm Tree ATFS, from es updat

Sponsored by STIHL by Sponsored Join our email list to receive news news receive to list email our Join

Tree Farm Photo Contest Photo Farm Tree to ATFS to

Announcing 2007 Announcing Get connected Get

r ecreation with assistance from 4,400 volunteer foresters. volunteer 4,400 from assistance with ecreation

Laurence D. Wiseman, President & CEO, AFF CEO, & President Wiseman, D. Laurence

Landowners manage their forestlands for wood, water, wildlife, and wildlife, water, wood, for forestlands their manage Landowners

Amy Yambor, ATFS Operations Manager Operations ATFS Yambor, Amy

est owners who are committed to excellence in forest stewardship. forest in excellence to committed are who owners est

Liz Sandler, ATFS Director ATFS Sandler, Liz

m illion acres of privately owned forestland and 87,000+ family for- family 87,000+ and forestland owned privately of acres illion

Bob Simpson, AFF Senior Vice President, Forestry Programs Forestry President, Vice Senior AFF Simpson, Bob

and outreach to private forest landowners. ATFS has enrolled 27.5 enrolled has ATFS landowners. forest private to outreach and

Brigitte Johnson, APR, Director of Communications, AFF Communications, of Director APR, Johnson, Brigitte promotes the sustainable management of forests through education through forests of management sustainable the promotes

Emily Chan, ATFS Program Manager Program ATFS Chan, Emily c ertification, and advocacy program in the United States. ATFS ATFS States. United the in program advocacy and ertification,

National Program Support Staff Support Program National Founded in 1941, ATFS is the oldest and largest forest conservation, forest largest and oldest the is ATFS 1941, in Founded